You are matchless, O Lord.
So our praise of You must rise above our humanity.
Magnificent is Your power.
Your wisdom has no limits.

05 January 2007

Real life hero

There are many people in the world, who do heroic acts. Think of firemen who run into blazing buildings to rescue people trapped. That's heroic. Think of any situation where someone puts their life on the line for yours. It's a heroic thing to do; even more so for someone you don't know, have never met, and have no feeling for.

In New York, a 50 year old guy named Wesley Autrey risked his life to save a stranger. Waiting for a train on the New York subway, a fellow passenger had a seizure and fell on to the track. Cameron Hollopeter, 20, is still in hospital having tests to find out why he had the seizure.

When Hollopeter fell on to the tracks, Autrey jumped down to help. A train was coming, there was no time to pull Hollopeter to safety. So Autrey wrapped his body around Hollopeter, lying as snug to the side as he could. The driver saw the event in front of him and hit the emergency brakes but two carriages passed over them, missing the two by centimetres. There were grease marks from the bottom of the carriages on the woolen hat Autrey was wearing, that's how close the trains passed.

Afterwards, when Autrey turned up to work, late, his boss did not initially believe his reason for being late until he saw the story appearing on the net.

Autrey has been given the bronze medallion, for outstanding achievement and exceptional citizenship. He has also been given cash rewards, and other gifts, to thank him for his brave actions.

Autrey's 4 & 6 year old daughters were there at the time of the incident, and saw their father save Hollopeter's life. Autrey has commented "You see somebody in distress, you help out" - "I was just in the right place at the right time" After receiving his award and the gifts he said "Good comes to those who do good" "What better way to start the new year than to save a life?"